This Year’s Easter Eggs

March 24, 2016

Happy Easter!

Who gets a little stressed when a holiday gets close? (Me, me, me! Hahaha.) I’m not very good at making a big to-do out of most holidays. I like to think it’s because we’re always in a new place, or that our holiday items are always packed away in a different place, or that Thane (often) isn’t home, or that we just had a new baby, or that we happen to be in between homes and living in a hotel, plus far from family, etc. But there’s also the plain truth that I’m just not that good at keeping up with it. Crafts, decorations, outings, parties, and all of that stuff are a lot of work! So with the exception of making Christmas cookies and (as of this year) picking out a Christmas tree together, I haven’t done a very good job.

Not to mention that I’m always comparing my boys’ childhood to my own childhood. Every time a holiday rolls around I think back to all of the really fun, family events I got to enjoy growing up. My grandparents, parents, and extended family in general did such a good job making those days special! We don’t really have the stability of civilian life, but now that Asher is old enough to start remembering I’m really trying to set some Keller family traditions of our own.

One of the few things that we’ve been able to stick with for the past few years is Easter egg dying! This year we got to go to a really fun egg dying play date (thanks Katie!) and we also did some of our own at home.

I wish I’d gotten photos of the actual dying process, but it’s getting harder and harder to do any sort of activity with the boys while simultaneously photographing it. By the time I pick the camera up, mess with the settings, and get ready to snap away, I look over and realize that Asher is taste testing something, Silas stole the scissors, and Finn is dangerously close to grabbing whatever cup of liquid is involved, hahaha. These days I’m lucky if I can get a few pictures of just the end product!

This will be our first of two or three Easters in Germany. Honestly, when we’re far away and we don’t have familiar places and people to see for the holidays, it can be kind of depressing. But this time will be a little different, we have family here with us! It’s such a blessing- strange, even- to get to be with loved ones and have a little piece of home here with us for Easter. Not that it’s all about comfort or tradition or cute little Easter outfits, egg hunts, or feasts. What really makes Easter special are those quiet moments when we slow down long enough to savor the sweet presence God, His majesty, and His astounding mercy and love for us. The new and abundant life we have through Christmore than compensates for any trivial thing we may lack on earth.

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” John 12:23-28a

Praise Jesus for giving His life for us that we might start anew, and once again, happy Easter!